Adaptation and use of amphipoda in fish culture ponds in order to increase fish production

Use and enrichment of live food resource in fish farms have been interested and highly demanded. Crustacean are one of the important groups. The Pontogammarus maeoticus dominated in southern Caspian Sea shore with a high abundance. This study was designed in order to adaptation and usage of amphipoda in fish culture ponds. The first part have been surveyed the laboratory experiments including of; to increasing and developing of P.maeoticus in 200 litter container, the effects of salinity on growth and survival of amphipods in many aquariums, the culture of common carp with amphipods and growth determination of them. Chemical composition analysis of P.maeoticus and carps fed by amphipods in compare to cultured carps from ordinary ponds. Due to concern about common healthy the heavy metal concentration has been measured in P. maeoticus, carp which were fed by amphipods and the cultured carps in earth ponds. In second phase; the adaptation of two amphipods species, P. maeoticus and Obesogammarus acuminatus was studied in fish ponds where some cages with sandy soft substrate had been provided for amphipoda replacement. Also a small surface of ponds surrounded by net and covered by Azola plant, a habitat suitable for to putting of O. acuminatus. Production of amphipoda had not the successfully results in large tanks. Aquariums with Caspian Sea water had the prosper results where the specimens were breeding and developing properly, even though in some aquarium with freshwater increased the amphipods number. The chemical composition had not significant difference between two kind of cultured carps while the organic component in amphipoda had a high quality. The better quality of cultured carp by amphipod diet have been confirmed by organoleptic test. The results of heavy metal measurement in amphipoda showed a high concentration which some of them were transmitted to cultured carps. Result of amphipoda replacement in cage was not satisfy and the specimens were died after some days. According to hydro-chemical parameters the oxygen poorness and high trophy levels were the affective factor to abolish of specimens in cages. It seems that there are many type of P.maeoticus that can be adapted in different salinities. The molecular differentiation should be investigated to choose the suitable type of this spices for utilization in freshwater fish ponds. In other hand it can be used in fish culture ponds that will be supplied by brackish water

Bio-ecological study of river estuaries in Guilan province

The Caspian Sea with brackish water is known as typical environment due to geo position, precious biota and the largest land-enclosed drainage area in the world. Macrobenthos were performed the main group of the Caspian Sea fauna. While they use as environmental bio-assessment, they have not completely studied in the Caspian Sea especially in estuaries environments. In this survey were studied eighteen river estuaries in Guilan province off Caspian sea southwest including Asrara, Chelevand, Lemir, Havigh, Shirabad, Khotbesara, Lisar, Karganroud, Navroud, Nokandekeh, Sefidrud, Heshmatrud, Langerud, Polerud and Chabokrud. The macro-invertebrate sampling was conducted seasonally at eight stations during autumn 2008 to autumn 2009. The macrobenthos organisms were identified as possible level in genus or species. The Shannon Wiener diversity and the Hilsenhoff biotic indices were used for evaluation of environmental quality. In this study, 69 genus identified that belong to 36 families and 16 orders. The most presentation of genus belongs to Chironomidae family with twenty six genus while others families were included forty three genus. The most average of macro-invertebrate abundance belong to order of Diptera with 35 %, subsequently the abundance of Amphipoda and Bivalvia orders occupied the second rank with 8.2 %. Orders Polychaeta, Oligochaeta and Cumacea had a low abundance during the study, however the Polychaeta showed a high abundance in some seasons and stations (up to 25%). The Plecoptera was rarely observed in some stations with high abundance. The Stenogammarus genus had the normally distribution during study, while Chironomidae genera as Eukifferiella and Cricotopus were measured in the high abundance during autumn 2008 to spring 2009. While Streblospio and Limnodrilus had the high presentation during winter and spring 2009, Cerastoderma sp. showed a high percentage in spring and summer 2009. The result of Shannon Wiener index values showed a significantly difference among regions for most seasons. There was also observed significantly difference for diversity values among stations in different seasons. According to Hilsenhoff biotic index for water quality classification; the most stations had good quality in spring 2009, while they were slightly and moderately good condition in winter 2009. The water quality of the Caspian Sea stations was in good condition as compared with the rivers estuary stations

Limnological survey of Anzali Wetland data during 1990-2003 by use of GIS system

Anzali wetland at south west of Caspian located along of North West and southeast and with its unique feature were add on the Ramsar convention list in 1975. There were recorded a high rich of fauna and flora including 276 plant species, 23 reptiles and amphibians, 60 fishes, 26 mammals and 195 birds. Anzali wetland were encountered with numerous disorder with the eutrophication and the early dismissing. The first studies on Anzali wetland started by many international institutions in 1964. In this study the data of biotic and abiotic factors in Anzali wetland analyzed which belongs to different sites (15 to 38 stations) during 1991 to 2000 and were sampled seasonally or monthly in different years. The results showed the increasing trend of phytoplankton abundance from 7.9 to 66 million C./l. and the western part had the most abundant. The Cyanophyta had the most development than other 7 phylum observed in the area. In Anzali wetland identified 143 phytoplankton genus that 9 genus dominated in more than 80 % replicates and 7 genus had the abundance of more than 5 million cell/l. The Zooplankton abundant increased from 580 to 2200 ind./l. The Rotatoria had the most abundant followed by Copepoda. There was identified 104 zooplankton genus that 5 genus were dominated in more than 80 % replicates and 11 genus had the abundance of more than 30 ind./L. The chlorophyll a varied from 8.8 to 50.2 μg/l. and had a increasing trend after 1996, meanwhile it was measured higher than 25 μg/l in most of the stations. The results of benthic study showed that the Chironomidae and Tubificidae were observed more than other organisms which comprised 12.2 to 23.5% of total biomass of benthic organisms in studied period. The range of biomass was 1.1 to 7.8 g/m2. The ichthyologic survey showed presence of 60 species that 11 species were exotic. 28 species belong to freshwater, 17 species were anadromous and 8 species were resident in estuary. The highest and lowest fish catch were 640 and 288 ton in 1994 and 1999 respectively and it was about 500 ton at the end of period. The hydrochemical factors had the various fluctuation so that the nutrients parameters had a significant difference over studied period. Total nitrogen was varied from 0.78 to 1.41 mg/l and total phosphorus varied from 0.05 to 0.1 μg/l.. The oxygen dissolved amount was from 4.6 to 8.7. EC was between 3 to 5 ms/cm during September and October that indicated of Caspian water projection. According to geographic position of station, all biotic and abiotic data, were arranged. The data bank is used by Idrisi software to produce of necessary maps. Analysis of data showed that there must be a responsible department with a vast authority. Conservation and eutrophication prevention of Anzali wetland connect to special attention to catchment area and landuse management of the wetland. Also there is an urgent need for well-developed technologies and managements to reduce the organic pollution and its environmental impacts on the Anzali Lagoon

Study of Shovier and Mirzakhanlo dam reservoirs in Zanjan province in order to aquaculture activity

Inland water aquaculture activity have been known as an important approach for protein production while reservoir lakes recognized to have a significant potential for this purpose. Zanjan province in Iran with several dam reservoirs is suitable for aquaculture development. This study was conducted on biotic and abiotic factors of two lakes Shovir and Mirzakhanlo in order to determine aquaculture potentially of reservoirs. This two lakes located on different climatic region; Shovir located in region of semi arid area with very cold weather in winter, while Mirzakhanlo is in semi humid area and warm weather characteristic. In this study the plankton, benthos and fishes were assessed and the 15 hydrochemical factors were measured in order to determine the fisheries potential for fish introduction or release. The results showed that the phytoplankton abundance of Mirzakhanlo varied between 1.6 to 45.2 million cell/l. with 32 identified genus. The zooplankton abundance varied between 48 to 632 n/l. and 22 identified genus. The abundance plankton in shovir varied between 1.350 to 34.2 million cell/l. and 240 to 4500 n/l. for phyto and zooplankton respectively. Macrobenthos biomass were 21.4 and 0.34 g/m^2 in Shovir and Mirzakhanlo lakes respectively while Chironomidae and Tubificidae families were dominant groups. The lake sediment organic matter were 4.3 and 3.2 % respectively. In ichtiology survey identified 5 and 7 species in Mirzakhanlo and Shovir lakes respectively. The hydro-chemical results indicated no restriction for aquaculture activity and according to trophic model both lakes are recognized as meso-eutrophic and eutrophic. Despite of climatic restrictions, the potential for fish production was estimated about 321 and 151 kg/ha for Shovir and Mirzakhanlo lakes respectively that can be improved by using agricultural and the other native facilities

Study of Todebin dam reservoir in Zanjan province in order to aquaculture possibility

The Todebin dam reservoir has been constructed in central part of Abhar in the Zanjan province which has been studied with aquaculture purpose. This study was conducted on biotic and abiotic factors. The plankton, benthos and fishes were identified and the parasitology and bacteriology studies were performed on the lake fishes. Then the fisheries potential of the lake was calculated in respect of final fish farming amount and the fish releasing. The results showed the Bacillariophyta was dominated ِduring the study. the highest abundance of phytoplankton was between 2.1 and 12.5 million cells.l^-1 in the upper layer of lake as compared with the lower layer. The genus Cyclotella and Dinobryon belong to phytoplankton and Keratella and Polyathera belong to zooplankton were dominanted abundance. The mean biomass of benthos was varied from 5.5 to 29.5 g.m -2 and the Chironomidae had the most abundance. The ichtiology survey showed the presence of four cultured species and the Goldfish. The hydro-chemical results indicated no restriction for aquaculture activity. The oxygen average was more than 8 mg/l. The average of phosphate, nitrogen and hardness were measured 0.09±0.04, 2±0.8 and 237±94.5 mg/l., respectively. For the most hydrochemical factores, the values were significantly different between upper and bottom layers of the lake. The oxygen production and Chl-a amount were measured about 0.73 mg/l. and 7/03 µg/l., respectively. According to climatic restrictions, the cold fish culture is preferred than to culture of warm fishes. While the natural capacity of the lake was about 5 tones to warm fish culture, the fish production of trout was estimated about 40 tones. This volume will be available during four months periods and twice a year

Comprehensive study on probability of controlling Caspian Sea invasive Ctenophora Activity 4: The laboratory study on probability of controlling Mnemiopsis leidyi by use of Beroe ovata (reproduction study of B. ovata in the Caspian Sea water)

In 1999 Mnemiopsis leidyi was introduced to the Caspian Sea from the Black Sea with ballast waters from the ships. The comprehensive study on probability of controlling Caspian Sea invasive Ctenophora planned after a remarkable of decreeing in Kilka fish catches stocks and fisheris community problems. This study focus on reproduction experiments of Beroe ovata as the best candidate for control of Mnemiopsis population size in the Caspian Sea that was performed in Turkey and Iran during 2002-2003. At 2002, 87 specimens of B. ovata, 10-50 mm transferred to Caspian sea ecology research center from Marmareh sea where acclimated with Caspian sea water gradually. At 2003, experiments were performed near to Black sea (at Sinop) with freshly collected Beroe ovata, 40-65 mm size in three salinity level treatment, the Black sea water 18 , Mixed water 15 and Caspian water 12 . 130 individuals of Beroe ovata were brought from Sinop (Turkey) to Iran during 2003. A number of Beroe specimens were sent to Guilan province for reproduction studies and another part were sent to Mazandaran province for both reproduction and mesocosem studies. For control we had 1 Beroe, length 30 mm in the Black Sea water that was alive during of study in Iran. The Jars were examined each day for ova and larvae and they were collected and put into glass container of Caspian water for hatching and developing survey, some of them were left without any handling for larvae developing. Also in another experiment the eggs collected from jars were placed in the same three treatments for studying of growth and survival. The results were unsuccessful on propagation experiments at 2002 since the spawning and hatching rates were very low (20 ova) and, none of the larvae developed into adults in Caspian Sea water. The spawning was more in Marmareh sea water with 138 ova where only 7 larvae was hatched. Results showed that Beroe specimens is able to survive and reproduce in Caspian water but was not as well as Black Sea also the Beroe larvae growth rate is low in the Caspian Sea water. Maximum fecundity of Beroe individual was 2212 and 235 ovae in Caspian Sea water in site Sinop and Iran respectively. Results showed 34-100% eggs in Caspian Sea water were destroyed and did not develop. In Iran we obtained only one larvae with 5 mm length, other larvae were at different stages of development but most of them were 1.2 2 mm. The results of mesocosm survey showed most of ova and larvae have been obtained from the tanks where individuals B. ovata were with Mnemiopsis. Fecundity of Beroe in the control with Black Sea water were between 17 to 1879 with average of 828 ± 112 ova. The poor results of B. ovata reproduction obtained in this survey in Caspian Sea may be due to transportation and acclimation stress and low salinity of Caspian Sea water

An eco-friendly and energy-efficient protocol for the Heck reaction under solar radiation catalyzed by rice husk silica‐anchored cinchonine.Pd nanocomposite

An environmentally friendly and energy-efficient method for the carbon–carbon bond formation via cross-coupling Heck reaction using rice husk silica-anchored cinchonine.Pd nanocomposite as a heterogeneous catalyst under concentrated solar radiation is being reported. In this investigation, first, silica nanoparticles were synthesized using rice husks as available agricultural bioresources. Then, the surface of nano silica was modified by grafting (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane, and after that, thiol-ene free radical reaction of its SH groups with alkene function of cinchonine by azobisisobutylonitrile initiator. Finally, the target nanocomposite, nano SiO2-S-Cin.Pd, was created via loading palladium nanoparticles into the mesoporous nanocomposite by its reaction by palladium acetate, followed by ethanol reduction. The structure and morphology of the nano SiO2-S-Cin.Pd nanocomposite was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The catalytic ability of this nanocomposite was investigated in the arylation of olefins in both concentrated solar radiation and conventional thermal conditions. A comparison of the conventional and CSR methods for C–C bond formation in PEG, showed that the CSR approach is a better alternative route with a high energy-saving strategy. The nanocatalyst is easily removed from the mixture and has been tested on several runs without a loss of catalytic activity. The heterogeneity of the nano SiO2-S-Cin.Pd catalyst was confirmed by hot filtration test. This method has the advantages of simple methodology, easy work-up, high yields, short reaction times, and greener conditions. In addition to convenience, this technology improves product purity and offers economic and environmental benefits

CAM visual stimulation with conventional method of occlusion treatment in amblyopia: a randomized clinical trial

Background: The application of CAM visual stimulation returns to the date of more than fifty years ago. However, the reports of previous studies in this field vary from no effect to significant effects of this method in amblyopia treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CAM visual stimulation along with conventional occlusion therapy in anisometropic amblyopic children. Methods: Forty amblyopic children aged 4 to 6 years old with no previous treatment were enrolled in this randomized clinical trial study. The subjects were randomly as-signed in two different groups. The group 1 included conventional occlusion therapy and group 2 includes occlusion therapy with complementary CAM visual stimulation. In terms of visual acuity and stereopsis improvement and reduction of amblyopia sever-ity, two groups were compared using the repeated measure ANOVA and LSD Post Hoc tests. Results: In group 1 including conventional occlusion therapy, visual acuity improved from 0.444±0.077 logMAR to 0.138±0.023 logMAR, i.e., improvement of 0.306 log-MAR (P< 0.001) whereas in group 2 including complementary CAM usage, visual acu-ity improved from 0.398±0.075 logMAR to 0.047±0.022 logMAR, i.e., improvement of 0.351 logMAR (P< 0.001). Regarding Stereopsis, the improvements were 157 (from 258±34 to 101±13 seconds of arc, P< 0.001) and 171 (from 237±33 to 66±12 seconds of arc, P< 0.001) for groups 1 and 2 respectively. All subjects of group 2 gained the normal vision at the end of the treatment period, whereas only 47% of subjects of group 1 could achieve this level of vision in that time. Improvement of visual acuity in group 2 was significantly better than group 1 (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Using of CAM visual stimulation along with conventional occlusion will further improve visual acuity and stereopsis in amblyopic children. These findings recommended the CAM visual stimulation as an accompanying and complementary method in amblyopia treatment

Simultaneous preconcentration of Cu(II), Cd(II) and Mn(II) on silica-polyethylene glycol and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A simultaneous solid phase extraction procedure for enrichment of Cu(II), Cd(II) and Mn(II) has been developed. The method is based on adsorption of Cu(II), Cd(II) and Mn(II) ions on polyethylene glycol-silica gel pre-conditioned with acetate buffer (pH 5.5). The adsorbed metal ions are eluted with nitric acid (1 mol L -1) and determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The calibration graph was linear in the range of 2-140 ng mL-1 for Cu(II), 1-40 ng mL-1 for Cd(II) and 4-100 ng mL-1 for Mn(II). The limits of detection were 0.66, 0.33 and 1.20 ng mL-1 for Cu(II), Cd(II) and Mn(II), respectively